What To Do

Note: This lesson is best taught after the lesson, Exploring Line, found on this website. The pottery will take 3–4 days to complete.

Tell the children that they will explore lines in Native American pottery, and then they will make their own pinch pots and use lines to decorate them.

Display the artwork, and have the children “observe” (look closely) at the decorations on each jar.

Have the children share what they noticed about the lines on the jars (see Guiding Student Inquiry).

Ask them to think about and then share the types of lines that they could use to decorate their own pottery.

Demonstrate rolling the clay into a ball, and then push your thumb into the center of the ball until your thumb is about ¼" from the bottom of the hole. Slowly widen the hole by pinching the walls outward and up. Turn the clay continuously as you pinch to keep the walls an even thickness.

Distribute the balls of clay.

Help the children as they form their pinch pots.

Flatten the bottoms gently by pressing the clay against a flat surface.

Set the pots in an area where they will not be disturbed, so that they can dry completely. This usually takes 2–3 days.

Once the pots are dry, have the children paint their finished work. Allow paint to dry.

Apply two coats of sealer, allowing the first coat to dry before applying the second.

Allow pottery to dry completely, and have children describe the decorations that they made on their pottery.

Guiding Student Inquiry

Tell me the number of lines you see on the jar.

Describe the direction of the lines – horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.

Describe the way the lines are made – straight, bent, curved, or zigzag.

Explain how you made your pottery.

Describe the decorations on your pottery.

Explore, Extend & Integrate

Place craft sticks, plastic spoons, toothpicks, paper, and paint in the art area. Allow children to continue their exploration of lines using the tools, dipped in paint, to draw lines on the paper.

Create a display of line art using child-created artwork mounted and fastened to a wall or bulletin board.

Make a web of lines by having the children sit in a circle, and take turns rolling a ball of yarn to a child sitting across the circle. Have children lightly wrap the yarn around their finger before rolling the ball of yarn to another child. As the web of lines grows, discuss the decoration the lines have made.

Check for Children’s Understanding

Could children describe the direction of the lines in the pottery as horizontal, vertical, or diagonal?

Could children identify the lines as straight, bent, curved, or zigzag?

Could children explain how they manipulated the clay to create pottery?

Could children use the tools to create line decorations on their pottery?

Did You Know?

Line is one of the major elements of art. The late Dr. Albert Barnes of The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, discussed the use of lines in artwork as one of the defining functions in a composition. He felt that the rhythm of lines had the important function of defining the contour of the objects in the artwork. His view was that artwork is bound together by the elements of line, light, color, and space.

The focus works of art for this lesson are from The Barnes Foundation. Pottery is a decorative art form that dates back to prehistoric times. Decorative details on pottery can be in the form of lines and shapes.

Did You Know?

Line is one of the major elements of art. The late Dr. Albert Barnes of The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, discussed the use of lines in artwork as one of the defining functions in a composition. He felt that the rhythm of lines had the important function of defining the contour of the objects in the artwork. His view was that artwork is bound together by the elements of line, light, color, and space.

Resources

Content provided by:

Common Core State
Standards Initiative

These lessons are aligned with the Common Core State Standards ("CCSS"). The CCSS provide a consistent, clear understanding of the concepts and skills children are expected to learn and guide teachers to provide their students with opportunities to gain these important skills and foundational knowledge.[2]

Theme: Elements of Art

Bubble Painting

Important Legal Disclosures & Information

While we believe that the books and resources recommended may be of value to you, keep in mind that these are suggestions only and you must do your own due diligence to determine whether the materials are appropriate and suitable for your use. PNC has no sponsorship or endorsement agreement with the authors or publishers of the materials listed.

There are currently no Common Core Standards for pre-k, but these lessons are aligned as closely as possible to capture the requirements and meet the goals of Common Core Standards. However, these lessons were neither reviewed or approved by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices or the Council of Chief State School Officers, which together are the owners and developers of the Common Core State Standards.

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